purr
Americanverb (used without object)
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purrs,
present (3rd person singular)
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purred,
past participle, past
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purring
present participle
-
to utter a low, continuous, murmuring sound expressive of contentment or pleasure, as a cat does.
-
(of things) to make a sound suggestive of the purring of a cat.
The new motor of the car purred.
verb (used with object)
-
purrs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
purred,
past participle, past
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purring
present participle
noun
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purrs
plural
-
the low, vibrating sound made by a cat by the contracting of the laryngeal muscles and the diaphragm as it breathes.
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a sound resembling this.
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the act of purring.
verb
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(intr) (esp of cats) to make a low vibrant sound, usually considered as expressing pleasure, etc
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(tr) to express (pleasure, etc) by this sound
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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purrsimple
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purrssimple
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have purredperfect
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has purredperfect
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am purringprogressive
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are purringprogressive
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is purringprogressive
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have been purringperfect progressive
-
has been purringperfect progressive
Past
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purredsimple
-
had purredperfect
-
was purringprogressive
-
were purringprogressive
-
had been purringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of purr
First recorded in 1595–1605; imitative
Explanation
The happy sound a relaxed cat makes is a purr. A purr is low and fluttery, and you can feel it vibrating in the cat's body. Your pet cat purrs, and so do some of her larger relatives, like the puma and the bobcat, as well as the cat-like animal called a genet, raccoons, badgers, tapirs, and even guinea pigs. Scientists aren't entirely sure how a cat purrs, but they do know that felines can either purr or roar, but not both (lions, for example, don't purr). They also suspect that a purr evolved as communication between mother cats and nursing kittens.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
There is the intermittent purr of generators, dogs barking, and, from time to time, the dry clack of domino tiles echoing in the street.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
They handled Australia next as the engine began to purr.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
If they were, it was from behind their sofas and between their fingers knowing City's juggernaut is starting to purr into gear as they swept aside hapless Chelsea in the second half.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2026
Victoria Monét, “Jaguar II” Impeccably appointed throwback R&B brought cleverly up to date by Monét, a prolific songwriter-for-hire now showing off a throaty purr of her own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 6, 2023
Metal clanks like a rattling silverware drawer for a long time, before it stops and levels off into a steady purr.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
When Banks purrs, “You have no idea what we have planned for Cycle 25,” you’ll have to forgive me for taking that as a threat, not a tease.
From Salon ● Feb. 20, 2026
Instead, as a vehicle for a pair of wonderful performances, “Pillion” purrs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 5, 2026
"Tee off on a trail of history," the club history purrs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 18, 2025
A portable heater purrs with a bright orange glow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2024
Everett was showily classical, but Lincoln’s classicism purrs powerfully under the hood.
From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith
In the morning, as we ate vegan doughnuts and watched cat cartoons, kitten Asher plopped onto my lap and purred loudly.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
"You do not have to do any strain to the voice. He is great," Trump purred.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
“You’ve had nine hits this year,” she purred fawningly at the singer-songwriter Michael Bolton on one of her British TV shows.
From New York Times ● Apr. 22, 2023
Two black kittens, tucked in the folds of my skirt, purred as I untangled their matted fur.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2022
A slim, swarthy young fellow, Lupe moved softly as a cat, and purred when he spoke.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
Early in his TV career, his purring voice and enchanting grin helped transform a string of coffee commercials into a serialized love story.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
As a panderer, one artfully strokes purring sympathizers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
The facilities are a quietly purring economic engine, injecting billions in investment, employment and anchoring the tech multinationals which, coupled with big pharma, fund over half of Ireland's corporate-tax take, according to analysts.
From Barron's ● Nov. 19, 2025
When the hands are focused on my back, I’m awash in a full-body buzz of calm, as if my entire nervous system were a purring cat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2025
Small Bob hopped off Percy and kneaded the blankets, purring so strongly the bed rattled like a Thousand-Finger Massage.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
